This section of the web-site will lay an important foundation that expands on our understanding, not only of how God set the symbolic structure of both Israel's Temple and Tabernacle to portray the order of His Creation, but also how Christ embodies these principles at the pinnacle of Creation. We should clarify at the outset the difference between the secular usage of a symbol, which differs vastly from its Biblical usage. E.W. Bullinger refers to Biblical symbols, as a figure of speech, defining them as: "a material Object substituted for a moral or spiritual Truth."1 The secular application of a symbol is much more generalized than this, including principles not guided by spiritual or moral truths, but profane and unscrupulous mysticism. The symbolic Old Testament sacrifices practiced in the Temple and Tabernacle were not just ceremonies without internal meaning, but rituals having true spiritual import, both then and now. In this context, the Passover Lamb was a symbolictype of Christ, who embodied not only the benefits of the Old Covenant, but also the blessings of the New Testament, even those beyond in the third Heaven and Earth. The symbolism of the Temple and Tabernacle of Israel also provides a very strong case for theIntelligent Design principles utilized by God, in His temporal, physical and spiritual order of the Heavens and Earth. As the old order of Aaron's priesthood is fulfilled in Jesus as the High Priest after the order of Melchisedek, God reveals His perfect society, with Christ Jesus as the Head of his Body-the Church. Since Jesus Christ is the perfect man, he embodies an inclusive relevance for the entirebody, soul and spiritof man, [I Thess. 5:23]. We have already seen elements of this system based on the three-fold light of the Creator, evident throughout many levels of the physical world in Creation. Only the fool chooses to ignore the inherent harmonies found throughout the Natural World, portraying truths from the Spiritual World. This is a critical part of the potency supporting the Biblical symbolism of Israel's Tabernacle and Temple. As our study progresses we will notice a vivid emphasis on divine celestial order, revealed at a time long before like knowledge was asserted by the ancient Greeks, Babylonians or Egyptians. Since the Creator was truly the source of the divine design of the Temple and Tabernacle, then we may expect to find unique symmetrical functions in their geometric order, related to structural elements at various levels of God's Creation. When we look to the witness of God's Word we find these harmonies in their primary and divine context, as opposed to how these principles were applied later in mysticism, human science, or cosmology. A basic pattern that emerges involves the plans for Israel's Temple and Tabernacle as divine architectural expressions the gospel of the coming redeemer, written in the stars, serving as a sacredarchitectural fulcrum between the witness of the stars and God's written Scriptures. Although similarities are noticed in certain ancient pagan temples, these can be readily accounted for in their degraded worldly application of the original principles of "sacred geometry," still surviving as elements of the truth hidden under the veneers of heathen mythologies, star religions and New Age mysticism. The Scriptures delineate key differences between the genuine application of these truths, as opposed to their corrupted astrological counterfeits. This study will focus on many of these points, especially in how Christ Jesus embodies and fulfills this celestial symbolism, on Earth.

Let's begin by looking at some elements of Israel's Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was a temporary and mobile structure designed by God to house the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God's presence among His chosen people. One aspect of the Tabernacle's celestial plan is found in the edifice of the wooden framework providing a foundation upon which the Tabernacle's curtains hung. The Biblical record is found in Exodus 26.

Exodus 26:1-13

Moreover thou shalt make the tabernaclewithten curtainsoffine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them. The length of one curtainshall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure. 3The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and otherfive curtainsshall be coupled one to another. 4And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second. 5Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another. 6And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle. 7And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make. 8The length of one curtainshall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall beall of one measure. 9And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle. 10And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second. 11And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, andcouple the tent together, that it may be one.12And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of thetent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle. 13And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.

The same Hebrew word for "curtains" in Exodus 26 above, is used in Psalm 104:2 where the "heavens are stretched out like curtains," by God. This comparison of the structure of the heavens foundations with the Tabernacle's curtains draws a powerful celestial symbol related to the Tabernacle's structure, epitomizing the Creator's design of the heavens. It also says something about the modern scientific discovery of the "expanding universe" which is implied in the idea of heavens that were "stretched out" by the Hand of the Creator. The idea of Cherubim being depicted on the Tabernacle's 10 curtains, is intriguing, considering what we have already seen regarding the stellar significance associated with their four faces. As we have noted, their four faces correspond to the zodiacal signs at the four Cardinal Directions of the heavens, while also being a critical element in God's throne-room. This is important because the Tabernacle housed the Ark of the Covenant in the holiest of all, signifying the presence of Jehovah in a covenant relationship with His chosen people, as a central purpose for all Creation. The Cherubim also carry symbolic weight regarding the cycle of the precession of the equinoxesbecause these four signs function as precessional markers for the Age of Taurus, as seen in Numbers 23-24. Since the vast cycle of precession serves as the timepiece of the cosmos, this fits neatly with the integration of space with time in the Creator's Intelligent Design of His Creation.

Exodus 26 continues in verses 15-30 with a description of the wooden boards constituting the Tabernacle's outer structure. This framework was assembledfrom 48 boards, each ten cubits high, and 1.5 cubits wide... This mirrors the structure of the 12 zodiacal signs including their 36 decans (12+36=48), divided into ten degree segments. This shows not only an evident celestial plan, but also marks the Tabernacle as the focal point of the celestial and spiritual light of God's presence on Earth during the early Old Testament Law period. As the 12 signs of the Hebrew zodiac embody the structure of the temporal order in Israel (12 x 4=48), with each tribe symbolizing one of the 12 sons of Jacob, whom God renamed Israel, after his spiritual inheritance, we would expect to see this symmetrical pattern in other aspects of the Creator's Intelligent Design of Creation. Such is the case when we realize that this priestly order of the Tabernacle was instituted in the Temple by Kings David and Solomon, 480 (12 x 40) years after the Exodus in 1446 BC. These two greatest Kings of Israel, each reigned 40 years, and Solomon began building the Temple in the 4th year of his reign, the 480th year following the Exodus [I Kgs. 6:1].
This 480-year period allows 12 x 40-year generations, a generation for each of the 12 tribes, which Moses lead through the wilderness for 40 years, during the third 40-year segment of his life (40 x 3=120). This reflects the same base 60 number pattern seen in Noah's Calendar [refer this study on our website], of 360-days, (120 x 3 = 360). This holy pattern of the priestly order of service, instituted in the Temple is also reflected in the 24 courses of priests each serving two times during Israel's calendar year, totaling 48 weeks. When the three weeks of Passover,Pentecost and Feast of Tabernacles are included, wherein all the priests served, we have the 51 weeks ofIsrael's luni-solar year, divided according to the sacred & the civil services.2 The sacred year began in Nisan with the spring Passover, and the civil year in the fall, started with Tishri 1, the Day of Trumpets, signaling the onset of the holiest 7th month. The separate weeks of this luni-solaryear were ordered according to the fifty-year cycle of Hebrew Jubilees, as we have previously seen, unifying the cycles of the Sun and Moon according to the key Symmetry of thephi ratio. We can see hints of this temporal order based on the number 50, in the fifty loops & taches that coupled the Tabernacle's curtains together, making it one tabernacle. [Exod 26: 5-6,10-11]. As the unity of the Hebrew Tabernacle is expressed in the coupling of its curtains through fifty loops, so the unity of the celestial cycles of the two great lights of the Sun and Moon is summarized in the Jubilee. This fifty-year cycle epitomized the ideal unity of the divine temporal order, symbolized in the details of the Tabernacle's structure. Thus the Tabernacle's sacred architecture & services embody the threefold light of Creation reflected in the celestial structure of the heavens, ruling over Israel's temporal order. Ultimately this pattern is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, as the King and High Priest after the order of Melchisedek.

Another important aspect of the Israel's Calendar is preserved in the description of the Jerusalem Temple pillars Jachin & Boazfound in I Kings 7. Notice the employment of the figure of speech polysyndetyn, or "many ands," emphasizing each element found between the connective "and."

1 Ki 7:13 And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.[14] He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work. [15] For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.

I Kings 7:16 And he made two chapiters of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter was five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits: 17 And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter.

"checker"- *H7639 [sebakah]- This shows a lattice work around the capitals of these pillars. The etymology of the word Balustrade [set of small pillars supporting a handrail] is from the Italian "balaustro;" a wild pomegranate flower,3 notable for its seven petals, as in the next verse. With each capital bearing seven chains of pomegranates totaling fourteen in all, the numerical symbolism of these pillars relates to the septenary blueprint of the Temple itself, comprised of 14 squares of 10 cubits each. We have seen prior evidence of the divine pattern of the number seven, as it highlights the temporal structure of the Creation week and the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost leading into the Jubilee.

1 Kings 7:18 And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter.

"pomegranates"- Gittith = Winepresses (related to the Autumn Feast of Tabernacles). Bullinger states regarding the biblical symbolism if this word:

"There are three Psalms which have this word in their subscription; Pss.7, 80, 83. Gittith is from Gath, (Judg. 6:11, Neh. 13:15, Isa. 63:2, Lam. 1:15) "The word speaks of the fall, just as Shoshannim, [lilies] speaks of the spring. Hence Shoshannim, (flowers) is associated with the spring festival [Passover] just as Gittith (fruit of the vine) is associated with the autumn festival (Tabernacles). The Passover told of Jehovah's goodness in Divine redemption; the Feast of Tabernacles told of Jehovah's goodness in Divine keeping." 4 [emphasis mine]

We may recall from earlier references, the evident implications of divine judgment associated with the winepress associated with the sign Taurus the Bull, embodied in Christ Jesus as the coming judge.

1 Kings 7:19And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.

"Lily"-white flower in color, with a straight tubular trumpet shape, carrying a musical connotation, associated with the joyful praise of the day of trumpets. Shoshannim (Lilies, or the Spring Festival, Passover) This word is found in the subscription of two Psalms 44, 68... "as the spring and autumn were appropriately represented by flowers and fruit respectively, so lilies and winepresses were singled out from each. The Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles divided the year into two fairly equal parts; the former being the spring festival and the latter the fall.... lilies and pomegranates (spring flowers and autumn fruits) were everywhere seen in the Temple (I Kings 7:20-22), and the knops (or knobs) of flowers of Ex.25:31-34 were doubtless the globe-like pomegranates and lilies 5. [emphasis mine]

In Exodus 28:33,34 & 39:25,26 we find a description of the robes of the High Priest, one of the threefold offices of Jesus Christ. An interesting feature his garments was the globe-like pomegranates and lilies, around the hem of the priest's ephod. The ephod was tied to the four-corners of his square breastplate, holding the 12 jewels associated with the twelve zodiacal signs, aligned to the four Cardinal Directions of the horizon. Thus, not only the architecture of the Temple, and Tabernacle contained the hidden zodiacal symbolism of the Hebrew calendar, but also the clothes of the High Priest, every detail of which was fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus Christ. The symbolism of the lilies and pomegranates seen in the temple architecture also mirrored the two basic portions of the year, according to its civil and ecclesiastical divisions, that we have referenced above. Alfred Edersheim supports this view as follows:

"The division of the year into ecclesiastical, which commenced with the month Nisan (end of March or beginning of April), or about the spring equinox, and civil which commenced with the seventh month, or Tishri, corresponding to the autumn equinox, has by many likewise been supposed to have only originated after the return from Babylon. But the analogy of the twofold arrangement of weights, measures, and money into civil and sacred, and other notices seem against this view, and it is more likely that from the first the Jews distinguished the civil year, which began in Tishri from the ecclesiastical, which commenced in Nisan, from which month, as the first, all others were counted."6

As the context of I Kings 7 continues, we find more details of the geometric structure and mathematical symbolism of the Temple, it's furniture and services, in agreement with Edershiem's views above.

I Kings 7:23-3023And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. 24And under the brim of it round about there wereknops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knopswerecast in two rows, when it was cast. 25 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three lookingtoward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder partswereinward. 26And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths. 27And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it. 28And the work of the baseswason this manner: they had borders, and the borders werebetween the ledges: 29And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubims: and upon the ledges there was a base above: and beneath the lions and oxenwere certain additions made of thin work. 30And every base had four brazen wheels, and plates of brass: and the four corners thereof had undersetters: under the laver were undersetters molten, at the side of every addition.

The Hebrew word for "line" of thirty cubits, in verse 23 is qav [Strong's #H6957]. The word carries the primary meaning of a measuring cord, or a ruler or standard of measure.7 This word pops up in a couple of other very interesting places in the Bible. In the 38th chapter of Job, God is discussing the foundations of the earth. Verse 5 asks: "Who hath laid the measures thereof, if you know? Or who hath stretched the line upon it?" The obvious answer to these questions is the Creator. In light of the usage of qav in I Kings 7:23, God's exercise of Pi as a standard ruler or measure in laying and measuring the spherical dimensions and foundations of our planet, recorded in Job, the oldest book of the Biblical Canon is enlightening. This is especially the case as we consider the context of Job 38. We should also keep in mind that the furnishings of both the Hebrew Temple and Tabernacle, which are the subject of I Kings 7, along with the structure of each edifice, are representative of heavenly things, [Heb. 8:5]. God's design specs of the planet Earth would certainly fall into this category, as the Earth's dimensions and temporal order fit into the celestial context of Creation. As we will see in more detail in the "Pi in the Sky" article on this web-site, Biblical usage of the Hebrew word "qav," God's exercise of the concept of Pi far exceeds any historical application of it by mankind. It is amazing what God's Word can teach us when we only give the Creator the proper credit for Who He really is! At times it seems men of science will go to any length to prevent naming God as the Creator, or even acknowledging His presence. They would rather credit the non-entity of chance, than to give credit to the only One Who could ever truly claim it, our Mighty and Omnipotent Heavenly Father. Let's continue with some other elements of the symbolism of the Temple of Israel, found in the basis of its design, structured according to the northern galactic pole.

In Figure B, we can see the two circular poles of the ecliptic and the Equator bound together, with the perimeter of each polar circle passing through the other circle's center. The third figure generated between the circles, yet mutual to both circles, is known as a vesica, or Venn Diagram.8 This geometric "lozenge" provides the basis for the symbol of Christ the fish that was used in early Christianity, while remaining in vogue on T-shirts and bumper stickers even today. The Advent of the Piscean Age, the precessional age signaled the birth of Christ the fish, whose supreme reign unifies both the sacred and civil temporal realms, from his ultimate vantage point at the crown of Creation. This image is symbolized in the Venn Diagram or vesica of the North Pole, the orientation point of Earth's axis. This geometric pattern of the vesica is found in King Solomon's role in the dedication of the Temple, recorded in II Chronicles 5:

II Chron 5:1-14

Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God. 2Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. 3Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month. 4And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark. 5And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up. 6Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude. 7And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims:8For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above. 9And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day. 10There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. 11And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course: 12 Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) 13It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music and praised the LORD saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth forever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; 14So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

King Solomon obeyed the will of God by having the Ark of the Covenant brought into the Temple to dedicate it, during the Feast of Tabernacles, in the most sacred seventh month of Tishri. During this time: the trumpeters and 120 priests and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD...

Like the fallen angels in the choral units of their first estate [Job 38:7], the priests as trumpeters and singers were in one accord, in making one sound in worship and praise to God the Creator. This O.T. account foreshadows a time in the future, when the body of Christ fully supercedes Lucifer and his fallen angels in their original ministry of worshipping songs in praise to Almighty God. This record of the transfer of the Ark of the Covenant from the Tabernacle to the Temple is important because the Ark represented the presence of God among His people. The God-given architectural plan for both the Tabernacle and Temple was designed to embody the framework of the celestial structure of Creation in miniature, on the terrestrial level. This view is supported in the following quote from Nigel Pinnock, who details some key elements in the pattern given by God to David:

The Tabernacle stood inside a court whose geometry was a double square [1 x 2 rectangle], 100 cubits long by 50 cubits wide. Inside the double square enclosure was a triple square 30 cubits long and 10 cubits wide. Its walls were constructed of wooden planks 1.5 cubits wide and 10 cubits high, held in line by strong horizontal bars of wood. The whole structure was covered with skins sewn together in strips 30 cubits long by 4 cubits wide. The Tabernacle was placed in the court towards the west, but with its entrance oriented east-wards, so that according to Josephus: "when the Sun arose it might send its first rays upon it." The interior of the Tabernacle was divided into two compartments, a scheme which was copied later in the Temple.....The outer compartment called the Holy Place, was a double square 20 by 10 cubits, whilst the inner compartment, the Holy of Holies, comprised a single square. As the height of the Tabernacle's ceiling was also 10 cubits, the Holy of Holies enclosure was thus a perfect cube (containing the Ark of the Covenant)....The Altar of Sacrifice was the outer equivalent of the Ark of the Covenant. It stood at the center of the outer of the two squares of the enclosure... This altar represented one of the two poles at the center of two squares-each upon its own center of polarity...The dimensions of the Temple, like the Tabernacle before it, were precisely detailed: [I Chronicles 28, II Chronicles 3]. A triple square double the size of the Tabernacle, and the walls of the Temple were hewn stone lined inside with wood overlaid with gold. The interior comprised a double square rectangular holy place, and a single square Holy of Holies. The interior was 20 cubits high, making the Holy of Holies again, a cubic enclosure. At the very center of the Holy of Holies stood the Ark of the Covenant which formerly had occupied the central point of the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle... The actual entrance to the Temple was 5 cubits in width, and opened from a porch which comprised two squares of 10 x 10 cubits. It was this porch which supported the two pillars....Jachin and Boaz.9

These ground plans of the Tabernacle and Temple of Israel depict the heavenly image of eastward access to God's presence, via the High Priest's annual ministry behind the veil, in the holiest of all. The two celestial poles of the ecliptic and Equator are mirrored terrestrially in the physical counterparts of their altars, in both the holy of holies and the holy place. As Pinnock states, regarding the brazen altar of burntoffering:"This altar represented one of the two poles at the center of two squares -each upon its own center of polarity....¦"10

This terrestrial arrangement mirrors the Venn Diagram at the North Astronomical pole, [Figure B.]. These two altars illustrate the bipolar structure of the heavens, seen not only in the galactic poles of the two great celestial circles of the eclipticand the Equator in northern skies, but also in their reflection in the Earth's magneticand geographicbipolar system. The interplay between these galactic poles exhibits a precession of the poles, where the pole star has receded from Thuban of Draco, to Polaris of Ursa Minor, over the last five thousand years. Within the common space shared between the poles of these two circles moving in opposite directions, lies the astronomical vesica or Venn Diagramof the North Pole.

This quote above from Pennick gives us an indication of how the original principles of"sacred geometry" are preserved in the dimensions and measures of the Tabernacle and Temple and the corresponding elements of their walls, furniture, columns, clothing, altars, orientation, and architecture. This divine celestial plan modeled in the Hebrew Temple and Tabernacle, is the foundation of the "sacred geometry" adopted by Freemasons and others before them, who have tainted these concepts in the defiled context of mysticism, divorced from their authentic roots in the Astronomy of the Biblical Patriarchs. This study endeavors to return this Astronomyto its genuine origins, dispensing with the corrupt astrological influence and pagan mythology of various ancient cultures and secret societies. Figure A illustrates the double square rectangle, containing the phi ratio, that provides key aspects of both the "pattern of the Tabernacle" and Temple of Israel. [Heb. 8:5, Exod. 25:9, 40]

Figure A. The Plans of the Hebrew Temple and Tabernacle

The graphic below shows another view of the precession of the poles from the perspective of the interlocking wheels of the ecliptic and Equator, with the fish shaped lozenge of the vesica between them. This "vessel of the fish" is formed from the lozenge of these two interlocking circles, the center of each located on the perimeter of the other. Archimedes called the formula associated with this, the "Measure of the fish." Its import to math and geometry was found in the ratio of its height to its length [153:265], and the fact that it represented the nearest whole number approximation of the square root of three, along with the controlling ratio of equilateral triangles.11 This provides abasis from which we can explore genuine aspects of the Creator's application of mathematics and geometry in His structure and ordering of Creation, according to the ruling base 60 standard of the precession of the equinoxes. This will differ widely from what has occurred with past associations in the mysticism of "sacred geometry."

Figure B.The Northern Astronomical Vesica

This view powerfully depicts how the Temple and Tabernacle symbolized God's celestial design of the heavens, seen in their two altars, mirroring the two poles of the ecliptic and the Celestial Equator. This also agrees with many of the principles seen in the pattern of God's Intelligent Design inherent in His Creation. Since the "pattern of the Tabernacle" contains the phi ratio also known as the "divine proportion" or the golden sectionwe can see definitive Biblical evidence that this universally recognized standard of measure is truly divine in origin, since the dimesions of these sacred architectural structures were given by revelation from God to Moses and King David.
A goal of Biblical Archaeo-Astronomyis to adopt a fresh view of the archaeology of Biblical artifacts like the Hebrew Temple and Tabernacle, viewed through the lens of the principles of Biblical Astronomy. This allows us to catch new glimpses of glories long hidden from the astrologers and empiricists, whose practices for too long have clouded the inherent grandeur of the Creator's sacred architecture.

By liberating the divine blueprint of the Temple and Tabernacle from a profane orientation that has served to distort its original pattern, perhaps a new light can be shed upon the true Godly design and purpose hidden in these divine architectural blueprints. By allowing God's Word to speak for itself in this important area, we introduce a fresh perspective to the field of Archaeo-Astronomy, emphasizing the liberating power of adopting a genuine Biblical perspective in this meaningful area of research.

We should keep in mind here that this double-square, (1x 2 rectangle) configuration of the Tabernacle's court containing the phi ratio, is also found in the dimensions of the Ark of the Covenant [Ex. 25:10], along with in the King's Chamber of the Great Pyramid. The dynamic celestial equator, the second circle secular in nature, relates to both the civil calendar year and the earthly Equator as it is mirrored above into the heavens. The movement of this equatorial pole around the static pole of the ecliptic is what is known as theprecession of the poles. The intersection points of the eclipticand the Celestial Equator are called the equinoctial points, which we know as the Spring and Fall equinox, the days when the length of daylight is equal to the dark of night. The altar in the Holy of Holies, keeping the Ark of the Covenant is represented in the sacred pole of the ecliptic, around which the equatorial pole moves, both wheels, inter-locked in the form of a Venn Diagram, depicting God's personal presence among His people. In the Old Testament, God's presence was only accessible annually as the people obeyed the guidelines of the Law carried out by the High Priest, to cover for their sins. The pattern of access from the east mentioned above, holds true not only for Solomon's Temple of the Old Testament, but also remained for the later Temple referred to in Ezekiel 43. Let's take a detailed look at how the return of Christ integrates this theme of eastern access in the Temple and Tabernacle.

Ezekiel 43:1-5 Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east:[2] And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. [3] And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. [4] And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. [5] So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house.

God's people are no longer dependent upon the sacrifices of bulls and goats by a High Priest that could only enter the presence of God once a year, but would have continual access to the Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ, the High Priest after the order of Melchisedek. As we have pointed out in other sections of our web-site, the planet Jupiter was known by the Hebrew name Sedeq, showing the relation of the planet Jupiter with Melchisedek. The Jews looked upon him (the Messiah) as the royal offspring of David "the Sedeq Branch" (Jer. 23:5 Jehovah-Tsidkenu). More than that, the word Sedeq was associated with the word Melek (King) which was combined to form Melchisedek, the Righteous King.12

Hebrews 7:11

If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

Heb 10:19 -20

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

As the redeemer and High Priest for all mankind, the ministry of Jesus Christ would include not only the restoration of man to the principles that governed the Paradise Administration before the serpent's temptation of Eve, but much more. Christ's redeeming work encompasses not only the sins of Adam and Eve, but also the many offenses of man since the fall of Adam. Thus we regain in Christ much more than we lost in Adam's fall, resulting from his one sin. The death of the first Adam, the death of a sinless man, initiated the ruin of Paradise and the transfer of Adam's dominion over the earth, to the serpent. Only a similar sacrifice will pay the legal debt of our salvation. To redeem humanity, Jesus had to come to us, [I John 4:1-3] totally within the category of flesh to redeem those born into the same category, [Heb. 2:16-17, 4:15]. A "God-man" would not be tempted by the world of fleshly things as other men [James 1:13-15]. If Jesus was not a man of flesh and bone as he called himself in his resurrected body, then he could not have been the perfect sacrifice required-the death of a sinless man, to redeem humanity, and we would remain unsaved! This is consummated in the final Paradise Administration referred to in Revelation 21-22. We find this in the reference to Jesus Christ as the "no more curse" in Rev. 22:3, who healed the curse that was put upon man as a result the fall in Genesis 3:17.

Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

Thus, the birth of the only begotten Son of God signaled the beginning of the end of this curse. The pattern of eastern access to the Temple and Tabernacle is also found in the order of the celestial signs surrounding the birth of Christ. We find this in the pattern of the three Jupiter-VenusConjunctions, marking the birth of Christ that occurred from 3 to 1 BC. The first Conjunction was in the final degree of Cancer, near its zero line border with Leo. The second was in fully in Leo, while the third was in Virgo. These three signs represent the eastern quarter of the zodiac of Israel, the heavenly image of the eastern side of the wilderness camp of the Israelites, the entrance or Way to the Door of the holy place (the truth) in the Hebrew Tabernacle. In Genesis 3:24, after God rejected Adam & Eve from Paradise, He protected the Way of the Tree of Life on the east of Eden, with the Cherubim's fiery sword, until the redeemer could come to reactivate the way of salvation and eternal life with God, for humanity. This door ultimately lead to the altar of the holy of holies, (the Life)in the inner heart of God's Sanctuary, containing the Ark of the Covenant. The temporal progression of these conjunctions perfectly matches the divine pattern of Israel's tribal arrangement on the eastern side of the Tabernacle. Judah/Leo was due east of the entrance to the holy of the holies, via the holy place, centrally located between the other two eastern tribes of Issachar/Cancer and Zebulon/Virgo. These planetary unions surrounding the birth of Christ are fully detailed in my book on The Season of the Morning Star. This eastern door to the Tabernacle represents the way, the truth, and the life, of John 14:6, which is embodied in Jesus Christ as the light of the world, and the door of the sheep, the Good Shepherd [Jn.10], the true way which leads unto life.

The truths of Jesus as the Shepherd are vividly seen in three Psalms 22, 23 and 24, showing the sufferings and glory of the Lord. As the Prophet, the Good Shepherd gave his life not only for the sheep, but for the safe-keeping of all people who would come unto him [John 10:11]. As the High Priestand the Great Shepherd, he is the first, last and only door, the alpha and omega, which provides the way of access through his resurrection [Heb. 13:20] unto life, into the true spiritual fellowship with our Heavenly Father. As the King and Chief Shepherd, his return will exhibit his final glory, coming as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, [I Pet. 5:4, Rev. 19:16].

Thus, like the eastern shepherd, Jesus Christ embodies Jehovah-Nissi: the redemptive name for God protecting His people, [Ps. 23:1].

The Door, or gate giving access to the holiest of all was covered by a veil in both the Temple & Tabernacle. The veil ofthe Tabernacle, which hung on four pillars, separated the holy of the holies, the central point of God's presence among His people, from the holy place. Woven into the fabric of this linen veil, the Cherubim were depicted, the special class of angels who are always prominent in God's throne-room. They are uniquely pictured as having four faces that correspond to the "four royal signs" of the zodiac, ruling the four-corners or celestial pillars of heaven, previously seen in Numbers 24:7-9.

In I Kings, the design record of the ten brazenbases of the smaller Brass Lavers, provide a strong clue that links the Cherubim with these four Cardinal Directions.

I Kings 7:25-3025It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. 26And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths. 27And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it. 28And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges: 29And on the borders that were between the ledgeswere lions, oxen, and cherubims: and upon theledges there wasa base above: and beneath the lions and oxenwere certain additions made of thin work. 30And every base had four brazen wheels, and plates of brass: and the four corners thereof had undersetters: under the laverwere undersetters molten, at the side of every addition.

Verse 29 above clearly associates the Cherubim with the lions (Leo) and the oxen (Taurus), in the design of the ten brass bases. This link is fully developed in Ezekiel's vision at the River Chebar, which we will look at presently. Exodus 36 gives us details of the colors utilized in the veil of the Tabernacle depicting the Cherubim. Let's consider some of this color symbolism in the services of the Tabernacle and Temple.

Exodus 36:35-36 And he made a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work. And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.

The veil hung from four pillars, representing the terrestrial number, and the earth's orientation to the four Cardinal Directions of the horizon. The symbolism of the number four is prominent in the imagery above, not only in the four pillars holding the Tabernacle's veil, but also in the four colors of the Tabernacle shown in the veil. The four colors are blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. Bluerepresents peace, showing us the presence of God and is seen in the Son of God as the Prince of Peace. Purple represents royalty, and is seen in Christ the King of Kings. Scarlet or Red represents blood, and is seen in the Man Jesus Christ, the high priest offering the perfect sacrifice and sin offering of his own life for our redemption. The linen was white, symbolizing the purity and righteousness of the Servant of God. Thus the four colors of the Tabernacle collectively embody the four-fold ministry of Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone in the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, showing his dominion over all Creation.As we have seen, these four pillars correspond to the four Cardinal Directions, known as the equinox and Solstice seen on the eclipticand Equatorat the four-corners of the heavens. These four cardinal points correspond to the tribes, zodiacal signs and colors as follows:

The vision of Ezekiel at the river Chebar describes these living creatures, specifically their four faces, matching the signs of the four Cardinal Directions of the heavens. As we have noted regarding the North, it was omitted for a number of reasons, which we will handle in more detail shortly. In the North we find the face of the sign AquilatheEagle[Ezek.1:10], replacing that of his natural born enemy, the Scorpion/ serpent, as is evident in the triple sign of the man Ophiuchus, as he wrestles Serpens the serpent, while stamping out the light of the star Antares, in the heart of Scorpius the scorpion. Ezekiel's vision is recorded below.

Ezekiel 1:3-11
The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him. 4And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. 5Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. 6And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. 7And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. 8And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. 9Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. 10As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.11 Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.

The matching of the faces of these four living creatures with the four signs at the cardinal points in Numbers 24, is worth a closer look. First, this correlation between the four Cardinal Directions of the horizon seems an obvious celestial reference, supported by the celestial wheels within wheels connected with these Cherubim, [Ezek. 1:16, 20-22, 10:1-22]. These wheels relate to the celestial structure of the eclipticand the Equator, as one wheel is pictured within the other, and the points where they cross are the equinoxes. One Hebrew word for "wheel" in Ezekiel, [10:2 & 10] is galgal [*H1534], a variation of Gilgal [*H1536], the "Hill of God," [I Sam. 10:5] where Joshua set up an altar of twelve stones [Josh 4], one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. The word galgal is also the root origin of our word "Galaxy," showing a celestial application of these wheels even into the modern day. Similar to the stellar reference of the 12 precious stones of the High Priest's breastplate, as symbols of the twelve signs of the zodiac, Joshua's altar marked their entry into the promised land, which was first deeded to Abraham [Gen. 13:14-15]. God marked the end of the Israel's sufferings in the wilderness even as He had marked their exit from Egypt, with a miracle of parting of the waters, both of the Red Sea and of the Jordan River. He also marked the beginning of Israel's reign of kings both in the anointing of Saul, along with the first Passover in the promised land at Gilgal. Joshua 5:9-10 has a figurative portrait of this initial Passover, as these "wheels of God's justice" rolled over the heathen that stood in Israel's way. Thus when we view the two phases of the return of the promised seed, first in his sufferings second in his glory, we can see the following division along the lines of Jesus' ministry as seen in the four gospels:

Sufferings

He came as a man/Son of Man/Luke/Aquarius
He sacrificed his life/Servant/Mark/ Eagle for Scorpion

Glory

The Son coming in judgment/Son of God/John/Taurus
The Lion-king of Judah rending his prey/King/Matthew/Leo

As symbolic references to the four quarters of heaven, the 4 unified faces of these living creatures represent a composite of the celestial narrative, witnessing to the return of the promised redeemer, and his judgment on the assembly of the wicked. The 22nd Psalm reveals more details of this evident celestial pattern, in the context of the Lord's sacrifice, in Golgotha's foreboding shadows. This is the record of the assembly of the wicked passing their depraved judgment on the Lord, as they orchestrated the events that surrounded Jesus' crucifixion. But as his immanent return speeds towards us, the mighty conquering judge will execute his righteous verdict with everlasting consequences for the evil ones.

Psalm 22:11-23 11Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. 12Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. 13 They gaped upon mewith theirmouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.16For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.19But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.21Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. [reem]22I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

In this Psalm, the wicked natures of those who brought about Jesus' crucifixion are discernible in these obscene caricatures of the four winds of the host of heaven. These dark shadows of the Cherubim rejoiced in the Lord's demise and death as they encircled him like dogs, ravening lions and gaping bulls, embodying the idol masks of Astrology. This was the peak of the power of this wicked assembly, but their time is past and their doom is sure. As verse 14 above tells us: Christ was "poured out like water," which depicts him in this celestial context as the man of Aquarius, who pours the living waters of the gift of holy spirit into the saints. This also agrees with aspects of the common Hallel, as the last words of Psalm 118 rang throughout the Temple, during the Feast of Tabernacles in the last days of Christ's ministry. We find this Biblical record in John 7.

John 7:37-4437In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) 40Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. 41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? 43So there was a division among the people because of him. 44And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.

Thus Christ himself embodied the fulfillment of the rite in which the believers had just taken part during this feast, which was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost when these rivers of living water flowed from the twelve apostles, as they first spoke in tongues. The context of John 7 was the last and great day of the Feast of Tabernacles, which reveals a deeper significance to the priestly ceremony involving the waters from the Pool of Siloam, which the priest retrieved in his golden pitcher. Alfred Edersheim enlightens us on these details:

"It was on that day, after the priest had returned from Siloam....and for the last time poured out the water to the base of the altar; that the Hallel had been sung to the sound of the flute, the people responding and worshipping as the priests three times drew the three-fold blasts from their silver trumpets-- just when the interest of the people had been raised to the highest pitch, that from amidst the body of worshippers, who were waving towards the altar quite a forest of leafy branches as the last words of Psalm 118 were chanted-a voice was raised which resounded through the Temple, startled the multitude, and carried fear and hatred to the hearts of their leaders. It was Jesus who stood and cried saying (the words of John 7:37-38). Then by faith in him should each one truly become like the Pool of Siloam, and from his inmost being rivers of living water flow...." 13 [emphasis mine]

All the resistance of the enemy, nor the stiff-necked leadership of Israel could stop the long prophesied and inevitable Will of God, from coming to pass. The authority of God's only begotten Son is close to being fully realized, and the evil ones will reap the full judgment awaiting them.
The 22nd Psalm illustrates this important element of the Hebrew cosmology, which was corrupted even further by idolatrous Israelites, who followed the examples of heathen star religions in sun worship and the adoration of pantheons of celestial heroes, in the mythos of ancient Astrology. This corruption degrades the truth and purity of the theme of eastern access, to the holy of the holies in the Temple and Tabernacle, replacing it with a form of man's works, the basis of all false religion. A fascinating example of this is also found in Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 8:5-18.5Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image6He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? Even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? But turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations. 7And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall. 8Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door. 9And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. 10So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about. 11And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. 12 Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? For they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth. 13He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. 14Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house, which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. 15Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. 16And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. 17Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. 18Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.

Here in verse 16, Ezekiel is brought to the Temple's inner court of the holy place, between the porchand the altar of incense, a special place specifically reserved for the ministering priests. We have already seen examples of how the eastern access to the holy of the holies, and the Ark of the Covenant behind the veil, was preserved in the celestial signs surrounding the birth of Christ from 3 to 1 BC. We find another example in the altar of incense, an important aspect of this eastern access in the Temple, in the archangel Gabriel's delivery of an important message to the priest Zacharias concerning the birth of his son, John the Baptist on May 19thin 4 BC. This Biblical record is found in Luke 1.

Luke 1:11-17
11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

It is interesting that the appearance of Gabriel to Zacharias occurred during the time of the burning of incense in the Temple service, because Gabriel was seen standing at the right side of the altar of incense. This location is special when we consider that Gabriel, the only angel recorded to enter the Tabernacle, announced the birth of John, who was the embodiment of this altar as the last prophet of the Old Testament. Even as this altar of incense lead from the east, to the Ark of the Covenant in the holiest of all, so the transitional ministry of John the Baptist would lead unto Christ. Even as the altar of incense would prepare the pilgrim for his offerings to the Heavenly Father, whose dwelling among His people was signified in the holy of the holies, so John would; "make ready a people prepared for the Lord." This sheds more light on the geometric structure of these two altars in the ground plan of the Temple as it is fulfilled in the New Testament. There is also an application to Jesus' statement in Matt. 3:15 when he told John, in the act of water baptism, he would anoint him so that they could fulfill all righteousness together. With the water baptism administered by John as the anointing of Jesus, the Old Testament Temple hierarchy of priests was spiritually superceded with the arrival of the heir apparent to the High Priest. Jesus,' whose coming was after the Order of Melchisedek, a priesthood not based on the sacrifice of bulls and goats, but the sinless body and perfect blood of the lamb of God.

It was Christ who cleansed the Temple in his day, even as God showed Ezekiel the cleansing that was required in the Temple leaders in his day, who were engaged in the idolatry of sun worship. Let's take a closer look at what God's Word labeled as "abominations" in Ezekiel 8: 6, 9, 13 and 17 above, along with other key elements of these verses.

Ezek. 8:10-12, 16v.10 "creeping things"- A reference to the entire realm of evil spirits that crept into the heart of the rational minds of the "elders of Judah," as a direct result of their devotions to the astrological and heathen idols in the immediate context.

v.11 "seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel"- The Sanhedrin, or spiritual leadership of Israel. "in the midst of them stood Jazaniah"- the leader promoting the serpent's influence in spiritual darkness. He utilized the Astrologyof the culture, hiding behind a cloak of legitimacy of the culture's religious leadership. "with every man a censer in his hand"-each had their own offering to their personal astrological idol.

v.12 "chamber of his imagery"-this shows the Canaanite influence of personal idols in each person's mind, depicted for Ezekiel in divine revelation from God.

"women weeping for Tammuz"- Tammuz another name for Nimrod, means to purify by fire and was related to human sacrifice associated with the idol Molech: [Amos 5:25], bearing the name of their fire god. Their children would "pass through the fire" in this ritual (II Chron. 33:6-7), to ostensibly purify themselves. As a reference to human sacrifice, this shows where rituals of this kind of idolatry will lead, as witnessed most graphically in the star religion of ancient Mexico. In this connection, the Judean philosopher Maimonades also makes reference to the scene of women weeping for the death of Tammuz' in a temple of Babylon. Nimrod is recognized as a historical originator of fire worship, which grew rampantly at this early stage.

The women "weeping for Tammuz" is significant for at least two reasons, first because it shows the depth of spiritual decay all through the culture of Israel, based on this idolatry. This idolatry had permeated down to the family unit as the foundation of the culture and society, as seen here in Ezekiel, beginning in the upper echelons of the Temple leadership including the spiritual heads of all 24 courses of the priests. Secondly, we should be aware of the context of Ezekiel 8, which refers to the great Hallel, sung on very rare occasions, making up the Psalms of the Degrees [Psalm 120-136]. Edersheim distinguishes this from the "the common Hallel," which is found in Psalm113-118.14 As is the case above, the enemy is always attempting to hide and cover the truth of Christ's dominion over the powers of darkness, the driving force behind all idolatry. This idolatry is rooted in Lucifer's "original sin" of his coup d'etat and attempted revolt in God's High Mountain dwelling-place inthe sides of the North. This is recorded in Isaiah 14.

Isaiah 14:12-2012How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? 18All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. 19But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. 20Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.

We noticed earlier in reference to the celestial pillars or four Cardinal Directions of the horizon, that the North was omitted. Isaiah 14:13 above gives us a clue as to why. The North symbolized God's holy habitations in His High Mountain, that Lucifer had designs on in his failed coup. We have already seen some of the celestial symbolism in theprecession of the poles, relating the truths of Lucifer's former brilliance as a resident of "the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north." The archaic pole star Thuban in Draco, was stripped of his former glory, and the star Polaris of Ursa Minor, under the feet of Cepheus the crowned king and promised seed, now holds this pole position, the former "gate of his enemies, " as Genesis 22:17 stated earlier. This may give one reason why the North was omitted in Numbers 24, inreference to the celestial pillars upholding the firmament, until the rise of the new Morning Star and the realization of the authority and dominion of Jesus as the promised seed is fully realized. This is a truth that the serpent has always attempts to hide.....

Ezekiel 8: 3-5, 14: "the north" in another sense refers to that part of the astronomical pole in the North, we have just seen symbolized in detail with the architecture of the Temple and Tabernacle. Additionally, it refers the gap in the northern skies (Böötes Void), where there are no stars visible to the naked eye. This symbolizes the gap in the timeline of spiritual administrations, where the Mystery of the Age of Grace was concealed. This spiritual Body of Christ revealed in the Epistles of the Church Age, were only prophesied of in the celestial epistles. This revelation of the Great Mystery [Rom. 16:25-26], is truly the heart of truth in the Church epistles, even as the revelation of Jesus Christ the Promised Seed is the heart of the revelation of the celestial epistles. This Great Mystery of our Age of Grace [Col. 1:25-27], and the Church as the Temple of God in the spiritual body of His Son Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone, was not written in the stars like the rest of the story of redemption was, it was only prophesied of, [Job 26:7 & I Pet. 1:8-11], to keep it a secret from the enemy, [II Cor 2:7-10].

The reference to "the north" also tells us that God was going to reveal something that He had never shown, about the true heart allegiances of the elders of Israel at this time. Thus we can also see how the north is also a figure denoting a person's attitude of heart because the North is at the center of the Word engraved in the heavens, as the human heart is figuratively at the center of the human body. This tells us what was revealed back in Ezekiel 8:10 concerning the realm of evil spirits that crept into the heart of the rational minds of the "elders of Judah." The "heart" is also a figurative reference to the believing center of the will in Ephesians 6:10-17, in the hearts and minds of the New Testament believers. The north also indicates God's dwelling place, [Job 22:12], at the focal points of both the Temple and Tabernacle structures, and finally in the hearts of the born again believers. We should also notice the alignment of these sacred Hebrew edifices towards the heavens, since their orientation was consistent with the first principles of the celestial epistles governing the unfolding of this astronomical scroll. This is evident in the customary sacred services of Israel, as they conducted their rituals on the northern sides of the Temple and Tabernacle, in observance of their memory of God's dwelling place, in the sides of the north. [Psalm 48:1-10]

v.16 "Inner court of the temple"-Holy of holies which held the Ark of the Covenant and symbolized the presence of God dwelling figuratively in the northern skies, emphasizing the vertical relationship between the Creator and His creation.

"backs turned toward the temple of the lord"-showing not only the contempt these elders of Judah had for God's Word and His Will, but by facing east they had shifted the original emphasis of honoring the Creator, whose presence among His people was signified by the High Priest's annual sacrifice, to honoring the Sun-god, (forbidden in Deut. 4:15-19, Job 31:26-28).

"worshipped the sun towards the east"-Astrology, is plainly seen here as a major corrupting & insidious influence on the Temple leaders, evident in their idolatry through the exchange of sun worship in place of the true worship of the Creator, through His only begotten Son. As we have already seen, the Sun was only one figurative portrayal of the promised seed of Israel, but this corruption is consistent withthe foundations of Trinitarian doctrines that dominated the cultural beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks and Romans. Since in each of these instances, the sun incarnate was worshipped in the form of a human male, this broke the law of Deut. 4:16, forbidding the idolatry of "making for yourselves [to worship] a graven image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female." The relation of this portion of the Temple to the great Hallel, and the difference recognized by these faithful believers between these idolatrous roots of Astrology, and the true worship ordained by the Heavenly Father, can be witnessed most lucidly in Edersheim's following reference:

"....The Levites (with instruments of music without number) stood upon the fifteen steps which led down from the Court of Israel to that of the Women, according to the number of the fifteen Songs of Degrees in the Book of Psalms [Ps. 120-136] Two Priests with trumpets in their hands, were at the upper gate (that of Nicanor), which led from the Court of Israel to that of the Women. At cock-crowing, they drew a three-fold blast. As they reached the tenth step, they drew another three-fold blast; as they entered the Court itself, they drew yet another three-fold blast; and so they blew as they advanced, till they reached the gate which opens upon the east (the Beautiful Gate). As they came to the eastern gate, they turned round towards the west (to face the Holy Place), and said: Our fathers who were in this place, they turned their back upon the Sanctuary of Jehovah, and their faces towards the east, andthey worshipped towards the rising sun; but as for us, our eyes are towards the Lord." 15 [Ezek. 8:16]

This tells us the nature of this idolatry based on sun worship, while shedding some light on the association of these the fifteen Songs of Degrees [Ps. 120-134] known as the "Great Hallel," with the miracle of the Sun going backwards on Ahaz' sundial. This was a sign not only of Hezekiah's personal rescue, but also the liberation of all those dwelling in Jerusalem via the fifteen years added to Hezekiah's life, each year related to one of the 15 Psalms of the Degrees mentioned above, [Isa. 38]. This miraculous healing of King Hezekiah lead to the extension of his progeny that eventually produced Jesus Christ, man's deliverer. The Creator's control of the sun in relation to the Earth's orbit confirms His omnipotent power over these celestial bodies as only a small part of His Creation, no aspect of which deserves worship in place of the Almighty, [Rom. 1:23-25]. This record in Ezekiel 8 thus exposes the decrepit foundations of all forms of Astrology, showing the degree to which this idolatrous substitution had its affect, because each ascending step of the Hallel rite leading up to the Temple altar, was given over to an idol. This lead to the corruption of not only Temple, with all its associated ministers, priests, Sanhedrin, altar and sacrifices, but also the entire nation would be in spiritual darkness as a result.

It is interesting that the Temple area between the porch and the altar is emphasized as having such powerful influence because the actions of the ministry leadership of the 24 courses of priests, had a pervasive effect on the entire nation as they "filled the land with violence." Idolatry in any form and especially Astrologyin this case, will always bring the wrath of God on those who promote its practice. This record in Ezekiel 8 is thus a key indicator of the spiritual health of the nation of Israel at that time, showing the influence of spiritual leaders in any culture. Let's now resume our study of the record of II Chronicles as King Solomon continues with the dedication of the Temple.

II Chronicles 6:10-21

10The LORD therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 11And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, that he made with the children of Israel. 12And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands: 13For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven, 14And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts: 15Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. 16Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me. 17Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David. 18But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built! 19Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee: 20That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place. 21Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.

In verse 13 above, Solomon set the brasen scaffold in the midst of the court, between the altars of the holy place, and the holiest of all. The configuration of these two altars mirror the basic structure of the alignment of Earth's polar axis, as depicted in the graphic [Figure C.] below. We can see how the geographicand magnetic poles on Earth are reflected in the North Poles of the ecliptic and the Equator, in the heavens as we view the graphic below.

As we keep the Temple of Jerusalem, the terrestrial paradigm of the North Pole in mind, the word "midst" above in II Chron.6:13, is "tavek" [*H8432] meaning the center, or bisection, so called from its being divided.16 As a terrestrial reflection of the celestial structure of the firmament, an important aspect of the Temple ground-plan is revealed as we consider some other places in God's Word where this Hebrew word "tavek" occurs. Genesis 1:6 is the first occurrence of this word, in reference to the order of the firmament, dividing the midst of the waters of the great deep, the waters outside the firmament, from the waters inside the firmament. This paints a picture of the firmament of heaven akin to vast a cosmic bubble, bordered by an immense reservoir. This firmament contains all the celestial bodies in the created Universe. This terrestrial paradigm is not figuratively limited to the Temple or Tabernacle of the Israel, but by the use of "tavek" in context of God's ordering of all Creation, it extends to include the entirety of our planet Earth. Genesis 1 tells us that the waters inside the firmament are concentrated on Earth, and the continents of the Earth are bisected at their geographical center by the Great Pyramid on the Giza Plateau.This memorial type of altar bisecting the Delta of Egypt, this part of the Nile, being anciently called "the sea." We find the details of this with the usage of "tavek" in Isaiah. This is handled in detail, in the section of our web-site on the Biblical Astronomy of the Great Pyramid.

The information we have been studying shows us a direct Biblical correlation, and a celestial reflection of the two altars of the Temple and Tabernacle, illustrating the bipolar structure of the Earth as it mirrors the galactic poles of the two great celestial circles of the eclipticand the Equatorin northern skies. The symbolism of the circle is heavenly, while the symbolism of the square is Earthly. When we overlay the celestial double circle of the galactic North Pole on the terrestrial double square of the Tabernacle's ground-plan, the 1 x 2 rectangle forming the midst of the Tabernacle's court, conforms to the common area of the North polar Vesica, between these overlapping celestial circles. This depicts the Creator's original plan of His Creation reflected on both the macro and micro levels, as seen in the blueprints of the Temple and the "pattern of theTabernacle" [Heb. 8:5, Exod. 25:9, 40] Only the true Creator could give the details of this Intelligently Designed Plan with such accuracy. Only the Almighty God is able to account for the work of His Hands with such a sweeping vista, encompassing everything from the largest to the smallest scale. All of this is preserved in the fullness of its inherent glory in God's Holy Word, so that it is undeniable even for the fool. Even the fool knows this cannot originate by Chance, but only in the deliberate Intelligent Design and foreknowledge of Almighty God.
On the micro level, this structure is intended to symbolize God's chosen dwelling place in the hearts and minds of the Church in Christ, showing man as the reason for Creation, and the container and reflector of the Creator's gift of holy spirit. In this sense Christ is the ideal man and an emblem of all Creation. All the symbols, like "Vitruvian man," are based on this original ideal which has been corrupted in the idols of the ages. We as believers will either align our thinking with the poles of the flesh or spirit by the freedom of our will, determining our fellowship with the Heavenly Father through His only mediator, the promised seed-Jesus Christ, the chief corner stone who crowns his Temple, the Church.

As King Solomon, son of David, spoke his prayer to God from this central scaffold between the altars, he practically unified the secular (dynamic) office of the King, with the sacred (static) office of the Priest, from a location that encompassed both spheres of activity for the nation of Israel. This is pictured astronomically as the dynamic equatorial pole slowly moves around the static pole of the ecliptic, with the common area between these overlapping polar wheels seen as a vesica or Venn Diagram. This gives us another viewpoint of the precession of the poles, as the equatorial pole shifted from Thuban of Draco to Polaris of Ursa Minor over the past 5000 years. This fulfills the promise of the coming redeemer as the current pole star Polaris resides under the feet of Cepheus the Crowned King, [Eph. 1:20-22]. This celestial image of the King of kings is realized and fulfilled in Christ Jesus.

As II Chronicles 6:16 tells us; There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.

It is Jesus Christ as the High Priest after the order of Melchisedek, who ultimately fills this position as both king and priest, signifying Christ thefish, giving the true meaning for the vesica as a fish shaped icthus, that is also a Greek word for "fish." This sign or cipher of the fish was popular in the early days of Christianity, especially with its Piscean associations, and has come into vogue again, towards the end of the age. These truths originally put forth in the astronomical context of the fish shaped icthus, at the North Pole, were divorced from these former affiliations as their use was degraded in occult astrological practices. We need only return to the first truths of the celestial gospel to recover the hidden secrets of the ages, that only God's Word can reveal. By forsaking the pagan astrological idols, the wisdom and Symmetry inherent in the Creator's Order will be revealed as never before. The starry host provides the faithful heavenly witness of these everlasting spiritual truths, as witnessed in the Hourglass Nebula below. This aptly named Nebula implies the sands of time running out on the serpent's dominion. This fascinating nebula closely resembles the vesica pattern, with the heart of the Nebula itself inside the fishes vessel. Intriguingly, this symbol also favors the number 8, having the spiritual significance of a new beginning, while resembling the division of a cell and the birth of new life. God, the Author of life has truly made new life available to all who believe through His Son, the agent of our new and everlasting life.

Figure D. The Hourglass Nebula

The Hourglass Nebula appears as another celestial indicator of the importance of the symbolic "vessel of the fish," representing the Age of Pisces as the precessional age that would reveal the long awaited and prophesied promised seed, and the final victory over the serpent. We have seen how important the advent of this age is in the chronology of the ages of the precession of the equinoxes. The details of how the opening of this Piscean Age was marked during the Celestial Prelude, are in my book: The Season of the Morning Star. This accounts for much "Piscean symbolism" in the Christian mysteries. Many of these "mysteries" were based on an emphasis of the purely geometric aspects of this knowledge, divorced from their true celestial roots, and mystified in a labyrinth of mythic and occult admixtures, to corrupt their true meaning. We have seen how the pagan cultures of the "fertile crescent" and ancient Egypt took elements of this "mighty system" of Patriarchal Astronomy into idolatrous applications of their individual star religions. Yet we still discern the original pattern of truth hidden under these idolatrous facades of ancient Astrology. The Chaldeans and Egyptians, as the Pythagoreans after them, present a clear case where this cloaking of the original truths in the celestial gospel resulted in its corruption. To remove the insidious influence of Astrology, we must recognize the original celestial symbols before they were corrupted and return to the solid ground of their Scriptural underpinnings upon which these truths can be re-set in their original purity. The association of the earthly twelve tribes of Israel with the twelve signs of the zodiac, gives us a perspective wherein we see a way in which the "ordinances of heavens have their dominion in the earth," [Job 38:33]. This is a primary goal of Biblical Archaeo-Astronomy utilizing the tools of the God-Breathed Word in concert with the witness of the stars.

As the presence of the stone tablets of the original Ten Commandments preserved in the Ark, represented the Old Covenant, their transfer from the Tabernacle to the Temple foreshadowed the transition from the Old to the New Covenants. This transfer foreshadowed the transition embodied in the ministry of the High Priest, to Jesus after the order of Melchisedek. As the ultimate High Priest, Christ inherits the breastplate of 12 precious stones, metonomizing the 12 tribes of Israel under the authority of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. This fulfills II Chronicles 6:16, providing all humanity the perfect man to model our lives after. One original truth of this celestial structure as it is reflected in the terrestrial, is the realization that Christ and his Saints, the spiritual seed are preeminent over all Creation, in the divine authority of their kingly priesthood. This is evident in the 89th Psalm.

Psalm 89:36-37Psa 89:36His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. 37 It shall be established forever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

The manifestation of His seed above is realized in the Church of His spiritual body, which is called "The Temple." The awesome details of this teaching are reserved for later publications, but for now, there are seven references to the believers in the New Testament as the Temple, with the first in I Corinthians 3.

1 Cor. 3:10-17According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. [11] For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [12] Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; [13] Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. [14] If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. [16] Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? [17] If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Verses 16-17 plainly tells us that we, as the born again believers are the temple, because collectively we are the habitation of God spiritually. Individually God has called each of us to share fully in the greatness of the loving fellowship with Him, mediated by His only begotten Son. As Jesus Christ is the head of his spiritual body, so he is also the head of the corner-the chief cornerstone figuratively at the pinnacle of the Temple. Thus the figure of the Temple in Jerusalem is carried forward into the New Testament Church of the Spiritual Body of Christ, and ultimately we will fulfill our heavenly calling when our new bodies take up their spiritual position at the right hand of the Heavenly Father, in Christ.

This illustrates how the Creator has brought man through the ages, back to a reconciled state of Fellowship and Son-ship with Him, through the mediator of His Covenant, Jesus Christ. We can see Christ as this chief cornerstone also in Ephesians 2:20-22 and I Peter 2:4-7, which are two of the other records in the New Testament where the Church is called the Temple, or habitation of God.

A master-theme worth noting, running through this teaching involves the external plan for the Tabernacle and Temples of the Old Testament, always being built around the focal point of the Holy of the Holies, the sacred juncture between God and man. These external blueprints reflect the internal worship of God's people, which has advanced from the O.T. sacrifices of bulls and goats to the living sacrifices [Rom. 12:1-2], of our lives in service to the overriding purposes and Will of God.18 As we discover the individual direction of our calling into the Church, we can finally offer a true sacrifice from the heart, fit for the Creator. Even as our very lives are gifts from God, so the worship we can now offer was perfected by God, from Whom all blessings flow.

This essay serves only as an appropriate introduction to the celestial symbolism of the Temple and Tabernacle of Israel, which will be handled in much greater detail in forthcoming editions of my published works. It is designed to give the reader an appreciation for the intrinsic Godly design of these sacred structures, as they embody the sacred architecture and detailed work of the Creator's Hand. As we are enlightened to God's purposes in these levels of His creation, we are also awakened to our own purpose in His master plan. It is my prayer for the reader that those of you who desire to dwell in the courts of our Heavenly Father's house, will find a welcome and friendly entrance here, even as we welcome Him into our hearts, through His only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.